2024 Arqana August Yearling Sale Ends on a High

Media Release - Monday August 19

After three days of inspections, racing and sales, the August Sale has concluded in Deauville. A total of 292 yearlings went through the sales ring with 77% changing hands for an average of €217,058, over €200,000 for the third consecutive year. The overall turnover came to €50,237,000, a figure that is just below last year’s excellent renewal.

Following the sale, ARQANA President Olivier Delloye and Managing Director Freddy Powell said, “Once again this year, the August Yearling Sale welcomed a wide variety of buyers to Deauville, both regulars and newcomers. Japan and the United States were particularly active, together with Europe, the Middle East and Australia. The 2024 edition was just behind last year’s record-breaking sale, with sales once again topping the €50 million mark and the percentage of horses sold at 77%, which remains more than respectable for a select sale in the current economic climate. It should also be noted that the 11 top priced horses were sold to 11 different buyers. These results would not have been possible without the confidence of our buyers and the work of our vendors, whom we would like to thank warmly, as well as our teams, who work tirelessly to ensure the success of our sales. We will now be concentrating on the v.2 Yearling Sale, which we hope will follow on from the results of the August Sale!”

Half-sister by St Mark's Basilica to MAGIC WAND and CHICQUITA the top price at the 2024 August Sale

1.7million St Mark's Basilica filly from Prudenzia - image Arqana / Zuzanna Lupa

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The auditorium was buzzing when it came to the turn of an eagerly awaited daughter of St Mark’s Basilica out of PRUDENZIA (lot 270) consigned by Écurie des Monceaux to go under the hammer. After a protracted bidding war, it was M.V. Magnier that had the final say for the blue-blooded filly, that is a half-sister to Group 1 winners CHICQUITA and MAGIC WAND from the family of the very talented EMILY DICKINSON, PHILOMENE, PACIFIQUE and VESPERTILIO.

“St Mark’s Basilica was an exceptional racehorse, and his win in the Irish Champion Stakes was exceptional,” said M.V. Magnier. “The cross with a mare like Prudenzia has a lot of potential, and we’re delighted.”

€1 million for a daughter of Lope De Vega

A little earlier in the day, a daughter of Lope De Vega (lot 240) was knocked down for €1 million in favour of Oliver St Lawrence, bidding beside Carlos and Yann Lerner. Consigned by Ballylinch Stud, the daughter of Group winner NORMANDEL hails from the family of French Champion Three-Year-Old HELENE CHARISMA ex MONT ORMEL.

“She’s a lovely filly that walks really well,” said the agent. “Yann and Carlos Lerner are going to train her and we’re very happy - they really wanted her in the yard. We are very happy and hope that she can line up in the Prix de Diane!

Daughter of Night Of Thunder for Al Shira’aa Racing

A little later, the gavel fell once again at €1 million, this time for a daughter of Night Of Thunder out of Group winner PAIX (lot 249). It was Al Shira’aa Racing manager Kieran Lalor that had the final say for the filly, that hails from the leading maternal family of MAGIC WAND, CHICQUITA and PHILOMENE, consigned by Écurie des Monceaux.

After signing the docket, Kieran Lalor said, “She’s a lot like Vespertilio, that we bought at Deauville two years ago from Écurie des Monceaux. They have a lot in common physically and they are both from this lovely Monceaux family. We are delighted and cross our fingers that we will be just as lucky with this filly!”

€650,000 for a daughter of Siyouni

With a timely update following DOUBLE MAJOR’s win in the Prix Kergorlay (Gr.2) just a few hours before the sale, his half-sister, a daughter of Siyouni (lot 285), was knocked down for €650,000. Bidding on behalf of The Thoroughbred Corporation, Jane Mangan had the final say for the filly out of a half-sister to Group 1 winner LEFT HAND and Group scorer AVENTURE. Consigned by Écurie des Monceaux, she hails from the top maternal line of PLUMANIA, PLUMATIC and FLOP SHOT.

“She comes from a great family,” said Jane Mangan. “Ecurie des Monceaux has done great work with her. Prince Faisal Salman was here this week and really liked her, she has the profile that we are looking for and we’re very happy.

Daughter of Kingman for Japanese trainer Hiroyasu Tanaka

Consigned by Applewood Stud, a daughter of Kingman was purchased for €520,000 by Japanese trainer Hiroyasu Tanaka. The well-bred filly is out of a half-sister to Group 1 scorer SERIENHOLDE from the family of Group 1 winners SCHNELL MEISTER, SALOMINA and SALIOS.

“She’ll come back to Japan,” said Hiroyasu Tanaka. “I think she has the perfect pedigree page for running in Japan. She’s a daughter of Kingman, who is very popular there as he injects a lot of speed, which is an essential criterion for our races."

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